FALLS DOMINATE CAUSES, NOT COLLISIONS
The study found almost three-quarters of emergency cases were due to falls or loss of control while collisions with vehicles were a small number.
“One of the most important findings from this study is that most injuries were not caused by collisions with cars or other vehicles,” Prof. Martiniuk says.
The authors say this means prevention efforts need to focus on helping riders stay upright and avoid crashes in the first place – that rider behaviour, inexperience, speed, road surfaces and device stability all deserve greater attention.
The study also suggests better data on helmet use is needed; the frequency of head injuries indicates that protective equipment remains a key part of the safety conversation.
“Speed management also remains important,” Prof. Martiniuk says.
“Even if lower speeds do not prevent every fall, they can reduce the severity of injuries when falls occur.
“The findings suggest that if we want to meaningfully reduce injuries, we need to focus not only on where people ride, but on why riders are losing control.”
Dr Sharwood says there also needs to be a more consistent national approach as well as better injury surveillance to track injuries nationally.
“Australia currently has a patchwork of different rules governing e-scooter use,” she says.
“This can be confusing for riders and makes it difficult to deliver consistent safety messages.”
She says a sensible national approach would include age limits, helmet laws, speed limits and riding rules across all states and territories – and, importantly, product safety standards and regulatory oversight for devices sold in Australia.
“E-scooters are now a permanent part of Australia’s transport landscape which is great in many ways too,” Dr Sharwood says.
“The challenge is ensuring we have safety systems that evolve as quickly as the technology and its use.”
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